Advice

1. Will I make friends?

YES! In fact by the end of the first term you’ll have so many you will end up trying to lose some! Remember everyone in first year is in the same boat as you. I can guarantee by the end of Freshers Week you will have said the words “hello, my name is xxx, I’m from xxx and I am studying xxx” a thousand times!

Making friends in halls is easy! Take a door stop with you so you can leave your door open. You’ll find that people will stop for a chat on their way to the kitchen. You’ll also be able to hear if anything fun is going on the corridor!

If you are in catered halls make sure you knock on everyone’s door to go down for dinner together.

Try new things! People will invite you to do all sorts of different activities and even if it turns out it’s not for you, then you may have still met someone you get on with in the process.

Swap numbers. When you find someone on your course you get on with swap numbers so you can meet up before lectures. Depending on your course lecture theatres can have 100s of students in them so it’s better to meet up with a friendly face before you go in than trying to pick them out of the crowd when you get in there.

Join Hallam Volunteering, a sports club or a society. Come along the the activities and sports fair in Freshers week and give something new a go. Don’t worry if you have no one to join up with, loads of people turn up to the first group meeting on their own and many say they have made their best friends through societies, volunteering and sports.

2. What if my course isn’t what I expected?

Don’t worry, if you need it the support is there! On some degree courses you will be assigned a personal tutor. This will be who you need to speak to should you experience any kind of difficulty. If you do not have a personal tutor or would rather not speak to them there is also an impartial advice centre in Hallam Union in case you have any complaints, problems or want to change your course. 

3. Will I feel homesick?

Most people feel home sick at some time or another. Some people get it straight away, and others feel it after all the excitement of freshers week has worn off. If you think you might feel homesick put aside some money when you get your loan to pay for train tickets. Then if you do need a weekend at home you will have the cash to do so.

One way of keeping the home sickness at bay is by keeping busy! Hallam Union’s Bar Phoenix has different stuff on every night, and if you like entertainment of the more sober variety, join one of the many societies and sports clubs or go along to the last laugh comedy club held at the union.

Sheffield also has loads going on. Look at http://www.shu.ac.uk/sheffield/ for what the city has to offer.

4. I will be a home student whilst at Sheffield Hallam; will I still be able to get involved in university life?

Simple answer…yes. Meeting new people is what university is all about and you’ll meet plenty of new people on your course. If that’s not enough then Hallam Union has stuff going on for all students. Come along to all the fairs in Freshers Week and join a society or sports club. Look out for our monthly e-newsletter to keep you up to date with what’s on at the Union.

And, if you want a night out at Pounded or Shef 1 and can’t get home in the early hours I am sure one of your new friends will offer a sofa for you to crash on!  

5. Will I need to get a part time job while at uni?

Many students do find they need to get a part time job whilst at university and manage the balance between uni and work well. The trick is not to take on too many hours. While the temptation of extra pennies in your pocket may be great, you have to remember why you are at uni in the first place (…to get a good degree) so don’t take on so much paid work your uni work suffers!

If you have any money worries Hallam Union’s advice centre can help you out.

Your worries…

What were your biggest fears before you came to Uni? How did you over come them? Let us know by emailing katie.johnson@shu.ac.uk and we could post your responses here to help next years new students.